1. Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's. 2. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last. 3. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas. 4. Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause. 5. Do not join independent clauses with a comma. 6. Do not break sentences in two. 7. Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation.